By Rachel Molina |Staff Writer|
Classic films have been maintaining their appeal for generations with their lasting worth of timeless quality.
The acting, dialogue, storylines and overall production are the ingredients that have made the following films stand the test of time.
“The Wizard of Oz,” starring Judy Garland, was released in 1939 and takes us on a journey with Dorothy, the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion along the iconic yellow brick road.
“Toto, I’ve got a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore” is a legendary line that is still quoted to this day.
This film was jaw dropping with its changing from black and white to Technicolor, fascinating characters, unforgettable music and special effects.
“The Wizard of Oz is truly a classic because no matter how many times I have seen it, the story still remains timeless,” said student Jessica Gomez.
“The Wizard of Oz” won two Oscars for Best Music in both Original Song and Score.
This classic, however, was not the only film to grace the screen in 1939.
“Gone with the Wind” is a breathtaking four hour spectacle with a grand, historical and intriguing plot during the Civil War.
Clark Gable and Vivian Leigh portray Rhett Butler and Scarlett O’Hara who have a tumultuous romantic relationship.
The scenery in the film is spectacular while scenes of war are authentic.
“I feel that “Gone with the Wind’ is a classic because of its design production value,” said student Oscar Saldana.
“The visual shots were beautifully done for that time period,” added Saldana.
It was the first Technicolor film to win an Oscar for Best Picture.
Orson Welles’ portrayal of Charles Kane in “Citizen Kane” (1941) is memorable as a publishing tycoon whose last breath of words is “Rosebud.”
This film was groundbreaking due to its innovative technical aspect of filming in deep focus and low-angle shots which are used in almost every scene of the film.
“Citizen Kane” went on to win an Oscar for Best Writing in Original Screenplay.
“Casablanca,” starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Berman was released in 1942 and is set in unoccupied Africa during the early days of World War II.
This black and white film incorporates the essence of romance and drama while enduring times of war.
The aspect of propaganda was used a lot in the film in hopes of selling viewers on America’s involvement in the war.
“There are so many things that make ‘Casablanca’ a classic and it is hard to pinpoint one,” said student Mary Larios.
“I think that its style more than anything is very captivating,” added Larios.
“Casablanca” went on to win Oscars for Best Picture, Best Director and Best Writing in Screenplay.
Alfred Hitchcock’s “Psycho” (1960) is a film that made many scared to ever want to use their shower again.
Anthony Perkins and Janet Leigh’s spine-tingling performance are unforgettable as Norman Bates and Marion Crane.
The multiple personalities that Bates possesses is memorable as he goes from being a shy-guy to murdering Crane because his mother, Norma Bates, doesn’t trust beautiful young women.
This film helped define the horror/thriller genre that still makes this film popular today.
“‘Psycho’ is a classic because of its character portrayal, musical score and of course its direction by Hitchcock,” said Saldana.
All of these classic films have captivated and continue to mesmerize their audiences and are a lasting inspiration to many filmmakers today.
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